Comments on: Obama’s Pre-emptive Health Care Surrender

By: hmo web » Kent Health Plan Michigan

hmo web » Kent Health Plan Michigan — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 22:06:04 +0000

[...] 8.Obama’s Pre-emptive Health Care Surrender – Matt Taibbi – Taibblog – Seriously, check out Kent Conrad’s plans for the local co-ops. Progressives should be wetting themselves with joy, as his plan provides the bennies of the public option without the overweening elements of a massive national health system. http://trueslant.com/matttaibbi/2009/08/17/key-feature-of-obama-health-plan-may-be-out-washingtonpost-com/ [...]

By: William K. Wolfrum Chronicles » Blog Archive » The “choice” of health care reform: How will health insurance corporations chose to deal with windfall profits?

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:53:13 +0000

[...] “Now, obviously, the public option was not a cure-all. In fact, the Democrats had in reality already managed to kill the public option by watering it down to the point of near-meaninglessness,” wrote Taibbi. [...]

By: burlstubblefield

burlstubblefield — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:48:01 +0000

We elected Obama hoping that he would act exactly like Bush, except to do good with the laws/acts that he pushed down our throats. Bipartisanship is dead. Republicans have only one agenda, and that is to block any Democrat initatives. We didn’t elect a majority democrat Congress and Senate and PRESIDENT to play nice with the republican minority. We elected them to be just as ruthless as Bush was, only difference is we want our guys to do good….

By: Frog-marched to a One-Term Presidency « David Pleasant

Frog-marched to a One-Term Presidency « David Pleasant — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:30:45 +0000

[...] a comment » This excerpt from a Matt Taibbi post a couple of days ago really needs no additional commentary. I suppose it is [...]

By: bankgeek

bankgeek — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:41:10 +0000

You can’t get something for nothing. Health care reform will cost trillions. But where is the money coming from? There aren’t enough rich people to pay for it and they won’t pay for anyway since they will always take advantage of the loopholes. That leaves the middle class. They will lose big time. But as long as they understand that and are willing to pay the price than there will be reform. Right now most middle class people don’t quite understand that. When the bill finally comes out of the House they will start to wake up. Then Obama will have no choice but to pass a cosmetic bill that only looks like reform. But he will claim victory. And the press will just white wash the whole thing. And that will be the end of it. Otherwise if there is real reform you will have deficits pushed into outer space and the U S will be broken financially.

By: pyroxene

pyroxene — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:21:19 +0000

I wonder if judging Obama’s efforts are ignoring his penchant for playing the long game (at least by America’s political standards). Michael Preston’s post makes me wonder. All during the campaign, despite all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about “he’s gotta do this” and “he’s screwed the pooch now” he and his team quietly and methodically racked up points. Matt can certainly come up with the proper sports analogy. That being said, trying to find the politician who’s selfless, honest and true is like looking for the most virtuous woman in the whorehouse. Obama’s a politician. On another note …”Republican Senator of a state with six people in it the way the Obama White House this summer is allowing Max Baucus (favorite son of the mighty state of Montana)…” As one of the six people here I take umbrage! He’s a Demoblican, and some of his stances make him a tool, but he’s not Conrad Burns! Hmm. Maybe that makes him more dangerous. Anyway, don’t paint us all with the same broad brush.

By: asphaltjesus

asphaltjesus — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:13:02 +0000

Matt said,

“It’s the difference between a government that openly advocates for big business and a government that ostensibly represents working people”

The Democrats may be associated with ‘working people’ but their legislative action is about the same as their Republican counterparts.

Maybe the entertainment industrial media complex gets more of its dirty work done in Democratic lead sessions, (DMCA anyone?) but that’s about it.

Given you probably want to keep writing for RS, I imagine you wouldn’t want to write about the entertainment industry the way you write about GS. But the same kind of abuse is going on.

By: a leader is one who leads, not one who cowers « Faux Populi

a leader is one who leads, not one who cowers « Faux Populi — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:28:22 +0000

[...] the other side of the spectrum, apparently some people on the left are appalled at taibbi’s comments about the bungling of the heath care thing (specifically, the portion that i quoted the other day). [...]

By: beckylooo

beckylooo — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:43:10 +0000

“But they also treated the power of the White House as an opportunity, whereas Obama seems terrified of the power he has.”

I’d be interested to know which of his actions informed this perception. He seems frustrated he can’t find the right light switch, not terrified of the dark.

But speaking to your larger point, I’ve been noodling it for a while, as I’ve read it from you more than once. While the lack of consistent messaging from the WH is frustrating and the righteously indignant part of me very much wants Rahm to march into the Senate with a blunt object and knee cap the blue dogs, the pragmatic part of me isn’t convinced it would make a difference. The tactic didn’t work for GWB on immigration or social security reform. Two initiatives that seem comparable to health care in terms of scope and complexity.

At any rate, this health care debate has been nothing short of crazy making. I’m looking forward to your piece.

By: Gears and Springs · Упадок нравов

Gears and Springs · Упадок нравов — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:43:54 +0000

[...] дошли до такой степени раздражения, что ставят Буша в пример Обаме. Учись, мол, как [...]